http://mmajunkie.comUFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and top contender Urijah Faber will serve as coaches on the “The Ultimate Fighter 15.”

The UFC today announced the coaching assignments.

“TUF 15” (which officials have dubbed “The Ultimate Fighter: LIVE”) is the first to air on FOX-owned FX and the first to air live fights. It debuts March 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT with a two-hour episode. Subsequent episodes air at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

The show is slated for a 13-week run, and lightweight and welterweight fighters will be part of the show’s tournament format.

“We’re producing ground-breaking television with ‘The Ultimate Fighter: Live,’ and we can’t wait to kick this season off with FX in March,” UFC president Dana White stated. “It’s going to be can’t-miss TV. Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber are two incredible personalities who also happen to be two of the best fighters in the world. They genuinely dislike each other, and I expect this to make for the best season yet.”

Cruz and Faber will meet sometime in mid-2012 following the show’s conclusion. It’ll be their third meeting; Faber won the first at WEC 26 via submission to defend the WEC featherweight title, and Cruz recently avenged the defeat with a unanimous-decision victory at UFC 132 earlier this year to defend his UFC belt.

The fighters have made no secret of their disdain for each other.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a gym rat and love learning and teaching mixed martial arts,” stated the Alliance MMA-based Cruz. “This is a dream come true. To get a chance to coach ‘TUF’ and beat Faber again is all the motivation I need. This is going to be an insane season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter.'”

Faber echoed those sentiments.

“I am looking forward to mentoring a bunch of hungry and talented fighters,” stated the Team Alpha Male fighter. “The new cast needs to be ready to work hard and learn. Having Dominick coach on the opposite side couldn’t be more perfect. I’m not too thrilled about being in each other’s space for an extended period of time, as I am sure we are going to get on each other’s nerves. But I can’t wait to mentally beat him up as a coach and then literally beat him up in the cage and swipe that UFC strap.”

“TUF 14” was the first season of the seven-year-old reality series to feature bantamweight and featherweight fighters. “TUF 15” is the first to feature bantamweight coaches.

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